Standout game from Malachi Flynn vs. Kyrie Irving proves Raptors were right to be patient
In a dominant road win over the Dallas Mavericks, it seemed the stars had aligned for the entire Toronto Raptors squad. Four out of the five Raptors’ starting lineup hit double-digit figures in scoring, as Pascal Siakam was on fire. It was also a breath of fresh air to see Malachi Flynn have a standout game in his right.
It has been a bit of a rough start to the season for Flynn. He has been the team’s backup point guard in most games, as the team lacks guard depth aside from the strong play courtesy of Dennis Schroder. Nevertheless, it hasn’t always been a pleasant sight to behold when Flynn takes the court as part of the second unit.
There have been many nights where Flynn has poor court vision, takes odd shots, and commits lousy turnovers. These struggles have helped suck the life out of an already depleted Raptors bench squad.
However, in this matchup against Dallas, even with an unfazed Kyrie Irving in his ear throughout the game, Flynn took the matchup in stride and proved the Raptors coaching staff were right to continue letting him cook amid pressure to make a change.
Malachi Flynn rewards Toronto Raptors’ patience vs. Mavericks
Best Malachi Flynn game of the season. By leaps.
— Chris Walder (@WalderSports) November 9, 2023
The stat line doesn’t scream dominance at first glance, with eight points, four rebounds, and three assists, but it was the tenacity and confidence displayed by Flynn that really separates this performance from his recent stretch of lackluster outings.
It was great to see Flynn close out a game with zero turnovers and being a net positive on the court. With Malachi out on the floor against Dallas, it seemed as if the whole bench squad worked collectively, as everyone was out there doing their part without attempts at trying to overcome Flynn’s lack of offense.
Irving’s stat line may not seem like a player who struggled in this game, but Flynn was pesky enough to give him legitimate troubles and make him work for his points. Flynn’s defense has generally been underwhelming, but Rajakovic has kept believing that he is closer to turning it around. After some rocky starts, Flynn is making plays on that end.
The offense and defense flowed smoothly throughout the game, whether or not it was the starters or Flynn and the bench unit integrated into the on-court lineup.
Thankfully for Flynn, he has yet to lose his place in the Raptors rotation, as the coaching staff and front office remained optimistic about his game taking a leap. And with a great game against Dallas, it just might be the start of the Malachi Flynn breakout tour.